Beyond the Device: Teaching Meaningful, Spontaneous Communication with Speech-Generating Devices

• By: Megan Robinson Joy, PhD, BCBA Devereux
• July 9th, 2026
• AAC, augmentative communication, autism services, behavioral interventions, communication skills, functional communication, speech generating devices, Summer 2026 Issue
• 734    0

A key component of a high quality of life is the ability to clearly communicate one's needs and desires with others. Effective communication allows individuals to advocate for themselves, make choices within their environment, and express their thoughts and feelings. For autistic individuals,...

Taking a Person-Centered Approach to Teaching Meaningful Employment Skills

• By: Megan Robinson Joy, PhD, BCBA Ashley McClennen, MEd, BCBA, LBS (PA) Sasha Birosik, BA Amanda L. Duffy, MEd, BCBA, LBS Emily Judovits Trevor Marsh John Pagnoni Devereux
• June 25th, 2021
• adults, behavioral skills training, employment, employment skills, employment training, natural supports, research, self-assessment, social skills, Summer 2021 Issue, transportation, travel training
• 4596    0

A person-centered approach is vital for providing effective employment training for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In an effort to capture the experiences of those who have received employment training, we conducted interviews with three members of the Devereux Pennsylvania...

Use of a Specialized PBIS Framework to Organize and Deliver Evidence-Based Practices to Children with Autism

• By: Todd Harris, PhD Megan Robinson Joy, PhD, BCBA Richard Allen, PsyD, NCSP, BCBA-D Carol Anne McNellis, PsyD, BCBA Devereux
• January 1st, 2021
• ABA, behavior skills training, Behavioral Intervention, challenging behaviors, children, coaching, data collection, evidence-based treatment, observation, PBIS, research, service providers, staff training, winter 2021 issue
• 6389    0

A significant challenge facing autism service providers is the effective and consistent delivery of evidence-based practices to the children they serve. A number of research reviews, including the National Standards Project (Rue, Knox, Welchons, Murzycki, Pollack, & Class, 2015) and the...